Mail catcher and deliverer.



B. B. CLARK.

MAIL GATCHER AND DELIVERBR.

APPLICATION IILED JULY 27, 1908.

906,107. Patented Dec.8,1908.

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m: NDRRIS PETERS cc. WASHINGTON, u. :2.

13. B-. CLARK. MAIL GATGHER AND DELIVERER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,.1908.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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THE NORRIS PETERS co.. WASHINGTDNI u. c,

BURTON B. CLARK, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

MAIL CATCHER AND DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed July 27,1908. Serial No. 445,646.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURTON B. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Catchers and Deliverers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to appliances for delivering mail from a station to a moving train and vice versa, both operations being performed practically at the same time.

The invention provides means of the character aforesaid involving a novel construction and arrangements of parts, which in operation is positive and reliable, the construction being such as to enable a number of bags or containers being handled at one time and to minimize the strain and wear thereon.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge. of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

WVhile the invention may be adapted to difierent forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the catcher, the same being elevated or folded. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the catcher detached from its swinging support. Fig. 4 is a side view of the catcher, the protector plate on the near side being removed. Fig. 5 is a side view similar to Fig. 4, both plates on the near side being removed. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the brace and guide. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the upper end of the stand. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 4:.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The bags or containers 1 for receiving the mail or other matter to be delivered are prothe spaced projections with a notch 5, the

same being formed in a widened portion of the hoop or ring. Extensions 6 are located upon opposite sides of the notch 5 and present the appearance of wings, being formed preferably of stout wire bent into the shape substantially as shown and secured to the body of the hoop or ring, the opposing ends of said projections or wings being spaced apart the required distance to form the notch 5. A number of bags or containers 1 are engaged with each hoop or ring, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1, both for delivery from the car to the station and vice versa.

At the station or other place for reception and delivery of the mail, a stand 7 is located, the same being provided at its upper end with a bar 8 arranged parallel with the track and projecting from opposite sides of the stand. The stand 7 may be of any construction and as shown comprises upwardly converged posts suitably stayed or braced. Transverse bars 9 are attached to lateral extensions at the upper ends of the bars forming the stand and one end of each is off-set, thereby bringing the terminal portions in a lower plane. The bar 8 is attached to the off-set ends of the transverse bars 9. Other bars 10 are attached to the bar 8 and the projecting ends of the bars 9 and are spaced apart a greater distance than the upper ends of the bars comprising the stand 7 to prevent the latter being struck by the bags or 0011- tainers 1 when delivered to the stand from the train. The bars 10 project beyond opposite sides of the bar 8 so as to engage with the hoop or ring 3 suspended for delivery from the car and effect disengagement thereof from the catcher without causing the same to bind or hang. ,A bar 11 is arranged above and parallel with the bar 8 and is connected to the transverse bars 10 by means of curved bars 12, the latter curving and provided with a handle 16 and a bar 17,

the latter receiving the catcher which is removably fitted thereon to be reversed, ac-

cording to the direction of travel of the car.

"The bar 15 and arm 17 form a swinging or pivoted support for the catcher and is operated by means of the handle 16. A collar or shoulder 18 is provided at the base of each journal of the bar 15 and is adapted to engage with the inner end of the bearing in which the journal of the bar is mounted. A brace 19 is attached at its ends to the plates 13 and 14 and is provided near its ends with crimps or off-sets 20 which are adapted to engage with the collars or shoulders 18 of the bar 15 and prevent endwise play thereof. The brace 19 also serves to limit the clown- .Ward movement of the bar or arm 17 and support the same in a horizontal position when lowered to effect delivery of mail from the car and to take up mail at the station. The swinging or pivoted frame is held elevated or folded by meansof a pole 21 which is slidably mounted in a keeper applied to the plate 14 and which operates. throu h an opening formed in a side of the bearing of said plate and is adapted to enter an opening in the journal of the bar 15. This is shown most clearly in Fig. 7. When the pole 21 is moved to disengage its lower end from the opening in the journal of the bar 15, the frame may be swung in horizontal position to bring the catcher in position either to deliver mail or receive mail.

The catcher comprises a bar 22 which is tapered at its forward end preferably upon the side adjacent the car when the catcher is lowered into operative position. The bar 22 is supported upon the arm 17 of the swinging support and is reversible to admit of adapting the catcher to the direction of travel of the car. Plates 23 are secured to opposite sides of the bar 22 and have openings therein in line with a transverse opening of the bar 22 to receive the arm 17 A pin or other fastening 24 serves to secure the catcher upon the arm 17 in the required position. The plates 23 have extensions 25 and 26 at opposite ends, the extensions 25 projecting upward and the extensions 26 projecting downward. An inner flange 27 is 'provided at the lower edge of each of the plates and said flanges support a slide 28 arranged beneath the bar 22. The slide 28 is adapted to be projected beyond the end of the bar 22 and plates 27 so as to engage with the hoop or ring 3 and support the same. A keeper 29 of L-form is pivoted. between the vertical extensions 25 of the plates 23 and its vertical member has a slot 30 through which the outer end of the slide 28 is adapted to project. The purpose of the keeper 29 is to retain the ring or hoop 3 upon the slide 28 when the latter is projected, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. A lever 31 is pivotally connected to the pendent extensions 26 and its pivoted end is made rounding and formed with cog teeth 32 which mesh with cog teeth 33 at the inner end of the slide 28. As the lever 31 swings or turns upon its axis, the slide 28 is operated. A hook 34 at the outer end of the lever 31 is adapted to engage with the lower end of the hoop or ring 3 at a point between the spaced projections 4, thereby preventing any lateral play of said hoop or ring. See Fig. 3. A ratchet 35 at the pivot end of the lever 31 cooperates with a spring actuated pawl 36 to hold the lever 31 elevated when moved to a position close against the bar 22.

A. brace or guard 37 is attached to the underside of the lever 31 and curves throughout its length and serves as means to effect release of the hoop or ring 3 at the proper time by coming in contact with the bar 8. The brace or guard 37 consists of a plate tapered at opposite ends and curved throughout its length, the terminal portions being notched to provide spaced portions which embrace opposite sides of the lever 31 and receive the fastening means connecting the part 37 thereto. The outer or forward end of the part 37 is pivoted to the lever 31, whereas the inner end has slidable connection with the said lever, the latter having a slot 38 in which the fastening 39 is free to play. A spring 40 is interposed between the lever 31 and part 37 and acts as a buffer to admit of the part 37 yielding slightly when striking the end of the bar 8, thereby preventing shock and injury to the mechanism. Covering plates 41 extend over the plates. 23 at opposite sides of the lever 31 and brace or guard 37 to protect the same from rain, ice and sleet.

It is to be understood that the catcher is placed upon the arm 17 of the swinging support so that the tapered end ofthe bar 22 will extend in the direction of travel of the train, thereby bringing the end of the bar 22 provided with the lever 31 and adjunctive parts in the rear of the arm 17. The hoop or ring 3 provided with the bags or containers 1 is placed upon the bars 11 and 8, the latter entering the notch 5, thereby preventing lateral displacement of the hoop. The bags or containers are suspended by means of the hooks 2 from the open extensions 6. The hoop or ring 3 provided with the bags some? movement of the train from left to right.

As the mail car passes the station, the forward end of the catcher bar 22 passes through the hoop or ring suspended upon the bars 11 and 8, and the arm 17 engages opposite sides of said hoop and strips it from the bars 11 and 8, said hoop dropping and being carried along by the bar 22. At the same instantv the brace or guard 37 comes in contact with and rides the bar 8 and swings the outer end of the lever 31 upward, thereby disengaging the hook 34 from the lower end of the hoop suspended from the slide 28, and as the lever 31 is moved upward the slide 28 is simultaneously moved inward, thereby releasing the hoop or ring 3 and permitting the same to drop upon the bar 8. It will thus be understood that both operations are practically performed at the same time.

A pawl 42 is pivoted to a side of the lever 31 near its toothed end and is adapted to engage with a notch 43 at the inner or rear end of one of the plates 23, so as to hold the lever 31 in the position indicated in Fig. 3. The pawl 42 has an end portion slotted to receive the bolt or fastening 39. When the part 37 comes in engagement with the bar 8, the movement of its rear end imparts a corresponding movement to the pawl 42 through the fastening 39, thereby disengaging said pawl from the plate 23 and admitting of the lever 31 moving upward at its outer end as the part 37 rides upon the bar 8.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In means for receiving and delivering mail of the character specified, a hoop having a notch at one side to fix the position of the hoop when in operative position, said hoop having open extensions at opposite sides of the notch forming attaching means for the containers holding mail or other matter to be delivered.

2. In means for receiving and delivering mail of the character specified, a hoop having spaced projections at one point, and a notch at a point diametrically opposite, said notch being formed in a widened portion of the hoop, the parts of the widened portion at the sides of the notch being open to admit of attachment of the bags or containers thereto.

In means substantially as described for receiving and delivering mail, the combination of upper and lower bars, and a hoop supported by means of said bars and having a widened portion formed with a notch to receive one of said bars and thereby prevent lateral movement of the hoop when in operative position.

4:. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of a swinging support, means for positively holding the same either in operative position or out of the way, a catcher mounted upon said swinging support and reversible to adapt the same to the direction of travel of the car, and means for securing the catcher upon the swinging support.

5. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of bearings at opposite sides of the door opening of the mail. car, a swinging support provided with a catcher and comprising a bar mounted in said bearings and having shoulders adjacent to the said bearings, and a brace spanning the door opening and adapted to support the swinging frame in horizontal position and provided near its ends with crimps to receive the said shoulders and assist materially in preventing play of the swinging frame in its bearings.

6. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of bearings at opposite sides of the door opening and in a side of the mail car, a swinging frame provided with a catcher and comprising a bar deflected between its ends and having terminal journals mounted in said bearings and provided with shoulders at the inner ends of the journals, said swinging frame having a handle at the point of convergenceof opposite end portions of the said deflected bar, and a brace having its end portions secured to the afore said bearings and provided near its ends with crimps to receive the shoulders near the ends of the said deflector bar.

'7. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of a bar, a slide mounted upon the bar and adapted to support the container holding the matter to be delivered, and a lever mounted upon said bar and adapted to be tripped at the station, said lever being geared to the said slide to move the latter and effect release of the said container.

8. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of a bar, a slide mounted upon the bar, a lever mounted upon said bar and geared to said slide to efiect movement of the latter, and means at the station to automatically operate the said lever to effect release of the container supported by means of the said slide.

9. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of a bar, a slide mounted upon the bar, a catcher cooperating with the slide, and a lever for automatically operating the slide and adapted to be tripped by actuating means at the station.

10. In means of the character described, the combination of a support, a slide for holding the mail in position for deliverey, a end with the lever, and slidable connection lever for actuating said slide, and a ratchet and pawl for holding said lever in position when moved out of the way.

11. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of mail supporting means, a lever for efiecting release of the mail from its supporting means, and yieldable means connected with said lever to efiect movement of the latter when operating the same to effect release of the mail.

12. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of mail supporting means, a lever for effecting release of the mail therefrom, and a guard curved throughout its length and having pivotal connection at one at its opposite end with said lever.

13. In a mail catcher and deliverer, the combination of a bar, a slide mounted upon the bar, a keeper cooperating with the slide, a lever, a gear connection between said lever and slide, a ratchet and pawl for normally holding the lever out of the way, and a yieldable trip device carried by said lever to effect operation thereof and neutralize shock.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BURTON B. CLARK. [1 s.]

itnesses H. P. BLACKMAN, C. IRENE WALKER. 

